Photos by Rebecca Byrnes, Sally Scott & supplied.

Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa is an institution on the Gold Coast, engaging locals to drink, dine and celebrate at the iconic venue and welcoming guests to its 329 rooms and suites. The sweeping staircase in the lobby creates a grand entrance and signifies you’ve arrived at a true 5 star hotel.

We settle in to lounges on the outdoor terrace, decked out with lime green cushions and a vase of hydrangeas, blending beautifully with the surrounding lush gardens. We’re promptly served a welcome glass of De Bortoli Willowglen sparkling wine which is wonderfully generous considering the overall $42 price tag, however we would have preferred to see a choice of upgrade options to include premium sparkling and champagne.

High Tea at Chapter & Verse at Surfers Paradise Marriott

House baked scones with homemade jam and double cream

House baked scones with homemade jam and double cream

High Tea is presented on a round three-tier high tea stand laden with treats, in addition to a separate slate platter bearing savoury tarts and scones. Affable Sous Pastry Chef Dan King talked us through his sweet creations, describing the processes and ingredients in wonderful detail.

King has been at Marriott for 4 years, having previously honed his skills at Zumbo Patisserie at The Star and Dalton House Sydney. Discussing his style and inspiration toward creating high tea, King considers “what is the norm and how can I make it a little different.”

Sous Pastry Chef Dan King

King succeeds in creating High Tea with a difference, presenting a colourful array of creations such as the bright pink Raspberry and rose creameaux with coconut dacquoise and Blood orange marshmallow which had the most unusual texture. The sweet selection almost overpowered the savoury selection with Smashed organic hen egg and mais loaf and the simple Pencil asparagus wrapped in prosciutto making our list of favourites and the homemade jam a real standout.

With prior notice, the Marriott chefs handle dietary requirements with ease, making subtle changes to the existing menu so that dietary items closely resemble the originals. Gluten free, vegan, dairy free and other dietary requirements are all catered for.

The outdoor setting amongst holidaymakers gives the experience a more relaxed atmosphere than traditional high tea venues, allowing us to easily linger longer over tea & coffee. The exotic selection of German Ronnefeldt teas included Wild Berries, Morgentau, Fancy Sencha, Black Assam as well as Jasmine, Earl Grey and English Breakfast served in pretty Robert Gordon tea cups. Service is to Marriott high standards but with friendly flair in keeping with the Surfers Paradise location.

Sally Scott

Sally Scott is the curator and founder of alluxia.com and freelance travel writer. Alluxia a luxury travel website devoted to connecting style conscious travellers with luxury travel experiences. Sally is a lover of good food, great wine and is in a constant state of wanderlust.